Sudan
Nile floods threaten Khartoum

afrol News, 13 August - Tens of thousands of people are fleeing their homes in Sudan as the water level in the River Nile reaches its highest level in more than twenty years, with the authorities urging others to be prepared to move at short notice.

The floods started last week, as the Blue Nile reached its highest level in 20 years. The River Sinnar, also comming from the Ethiopian highlands, was reported flooding. The waters started submerging whole villages, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee. Now, the floods have reached the Nile proper.

Whole villages and settlements in River Nile and Sinnar states have been submerged while there has been damage to crops, property and livestock in the states of Darfur, Red Sea and Kassala. But there has been growing concern over the capital, Khartoum, which is also at risk.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies today sent out an appeal for nearly 1.3 million Swiss francs (about US$ 800,000) to support on-going relief work for flood victims and for contingency measures should the Nile burst its banks in the capital as it did in August 1988 with catastrophic consequences.

- There are some two millon internally displaced people living in shanty towns around Khartoum city and it is they - trapped in poverty - who suffer the most when we get these recurrent floods, said Omer Osman, Secretary General of the Sudanese Red Crescent.

According to i statement from the humanitarian organisation, a contingency plan has already been activated and volunteers from the Sudanese Red Crescent have been clearing debris, distributing food and blankets and providing first aid and social support to several of th affected areas along the banks of the Nile.

- But there is urgent need for relief items such as tarpaulins, chlorine tablets and essential drugs and equipment for mobile health clinics, the Red Crescent statement reads. "The appeal by the International Federation will help the Sudanese Red Crescent to aid 10,000 of the most needy displaced people for three months."

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